The end of an era...

Almost 13 years ago, E and I had a dog named Sadie who, in my opinion, needed a sister/playmate.  E was not so sure. So instead of looking for a puppy, I went to volunteer at the SPCA.  Needless to say, Sadie got her sister/playmate in about two weeks.  It might have been about a month, but regardless, Sadie got what I thought she needed…and hated it.  Apparently, Sadie really didn’t need or want another dog in the house.  She especially didn’t want a small, energetic puppy who wanted to play and bite on her all the time. 

But look, they were so cute!!

Sadie turned from a crazy puppy to an old dog on her second birthday.  It was sort of incredible how she calmed down from one day to the next.  Based on this experience we expected the same thing with Jasmine.  Well, we were so wrong.  Jasmine stayed energetic her whole life.  She could still run, climb stairs, and jump into a car the day she died.  That is not to say that she stayed healthy.  She was our bionic dog.  She blew out one knee in Germany when she was just 3 or so.  $1000 later, we had our sweet energetic dog back.  All she needed was an expensive food supplement to make sure that her knee didn’t get sore.  We also had a promise that the other knee would probably blow since it does usually happen to both knees.  This meant that even after recovery she had to give up her favorite sport-Frisbee.

Making her give up the Frisbee was hard, but at least she had the German fields to run in without a leash.  Unlike Sadie, Jasmine loved nothing more than running and being near us.  She could be trusted to be off leash and come back regularly.  Poor Sadie loved food much more than us, so she had to be kept on the leash most of the time!  The only real problem we had related to the Frisbee was a leash.  Sometime after her first surgery, we got Sadie a new retractable leash.  Unfortunately we bought a blue one which apparently made Jasmine think it was a Frisbee.  It took us about a week to figure out that the reason why Jasmine kept running circles around me during our walks and biting at the leash was that she thought it was a Frisbee.  We actually had to get rid of that leash. 

The dogs were our constant companions.  They went to Germany with us, of course. 

They also made it to Italy...

and France.

We moved back to the States and Jasmine thought that a good time to blow out knee #2.  This is when E and I found out how much more expensive US vets were than German ones: at least double, if you are wondering.  That was Jasmine.  She was very healthy until she wasn’t.  I always thought that she would go like that too.  I didn’t think she would have a problem like Sadie’s that went up and down and up and down.  Jasmine would go quickly.  And I was right. 

 We moved to NJ and the house had no fence.  J was good most of the time and stayed in the yard.  But other times she decided to explore.  I am sad that I didn’t stop her, but I couldn’t keep that dog on a leash at all times.  That would have been heart breaking for everyone, every day.  So, I didn’t and last week she left at night.  She never left for more than 20 minutes.  Thursday night she didn’t come home at all.  I knew what must have happened, but I tried to keep the faith.  The morning brought reality-we weren’t dog owners anymore.  I miss her, even her craziness, a lot.  I still hear her tags clanging on her collar when I move (she would always jump up when I got up) or when I open the door.  Unfortunately, she is not there. She was a very good, faithful dog.  She loved us very much!  She is so missed!

Randomness-Ode to my Sadie Dog

There once was a dog named Sadie

who was a little bit crazy.

She acted a fool

until she turned two

then she became an old lady.

Take that mean 4th grade teacher who put my poetry on the board to illustrate how NOT to rhyme!

We have been traveling a lot lately hence the neglect of the blog.  We probably should not have traveled since Sadie has been having health issues since July.  Each time we think that we have figured out and fixed the problem, we leave and the poor dog sitters have a hell of a time. 

We headed to Germany on the 21st thinking that we had gotten rid of the latest problem, but oh was there a bigger one to come.  We knew from emailed reports that the S dog was having problems as soon as we left.  By the time we got back things had gotten to a really bad point.  A cyst that Sadie has had for years had burst because she had been picking at it.  She lived through that experience, but whether or not she will live through the surgery tomorrow is still unknown.

During this time of waiting, I have been thinking of Sadie. I have been crying.  I have even been wishing that she would find a quick out during surgery so that she won't have to live with the never-ending problems. 

Sadie was my first baby.  I got her right out of college.  I sped home during lunch to let her out and even got caught once.  She really did act a fool for those first two years.  We will apologize AGAIN for the chewed handle on the brand new lazy boy (sorry Anthony), the chewed knob on the new pie safe (sorry Mom), the chewing of our roommate's cat (sorry Gina, so glad you have a bad memory and forgot this incident), and chewed glasses (sorry self, good thing I had insurance).  And then, she turned two and really, that day, she turned into a grandma.  She slowed and even seemed wise.  It was fitting since she was named after a character in a book that WAS a wise old grandma.  You ought to have seen the looks of disgust she shot Jasmine when I brought that wild puppy home from the SPCA.  Sadie tolerated, but would have nothing to do with her.

We took them to Germany and they thrived.  Jasmine and Sadie both seemed to find energy and joy everyday.  I didn't have children then, so they were my "in" into village life.  They got to go to restaurants with us and out us as Americans with their bad behavior.  I mean really.  No self-respecting German dog would lie in the MIDDLE of the floor just so that they could lie on the rug.  They went to Italy and France.  They even got to see Montepuciano (where New Moon was filmed) before it was cool. 

I knew that coming back to Texas would be the end of them both.  First, they are old.  I am pretty realistic on that point.  Secondly, Sadie seems to wilt in the heat and Jasmine freaks from storms.  Texas has a lot of both.  I felt so bad taking them out of paradise into hell.  But to pay for those sky-rocketing vet bills, hubby needed to keep his job.  (Ask me about the difference in vet bills another time.  CRAZY!)  So here we are:  Facing the end of life, either tomorrow or in the next couple of years.  These dogs have taught me a lot and they continue to do so.  I fear my parents' aging.  I fear my own.  I have seen a glimpse of it and it is not pretty (sorry Sadie).  May I find strength and grace to face it.

Good Luck Sadie Dog.  I hope I see you again tomorrow!

ETA-June 14, 2006
After 2 months of doing well, Sadie developed ulcerated masses on her suture spot.  As of today, we are still fighting that and hoping she will heal.